ELI Staff

Meet the ELI Staff

Rhonda Seidman, Executive Director

I have been the Director of Pine Manor College English Language Institute (ELI) since its inception in 1996. During this time, I have had the good fortune of meeting thousands of students from all over the world and celebrating their accomplishments. Prior to starting up ELI, I had 14 years of experience teaching and directing language schools in the Boston area. I earned my Master's Degree in Education from Harvard University and received a Certificate of Spanish Studies at the University of Mexico in Mexico City. I have traveled extensively throughout the world and have a strong affinity for learning about other cultures. I hold on to the value that by understanding, respecting, and appreciating each others cultures, we can achieve a more just and peaceful world. This is the guiding mission of our program. After working at other schools, studying, and traveling outside of the US, I came on to start up ELI because I thought Pine Manor College was the ideal location to study English. It is located on a beautiful campus just minutes away from the vibrant center of Boston. The personal, friendly, and supportive community makes students feel at home and part of a family. Students have the opportunity to audit classes during the academic year, participate in on-campus events, and practice English with students and staff from the United States. Even the shuttle drivers sing with the students! Our commitment is to provide you with the highest quality English classes as we help you to reach your academic, professional, and personal goals. The ELI staff understands the challenges that international students confront when they study and live outside of their home country and are always willing to assist you. Students have told me that their experience here has been: 'unforgettable', 'invaluable', 'best experience of my life', 'priceless'. We are confident that you will be highly successful in your studies with us, and that we can offer you an excellent educational, social, and cultural experience. We hope that you will choose to study at ELI. You will have enjoyable memories that will last a lifetime. We look forward to warmly welcoming you to our program!

Dan Bohrs, ELI Program Director

I have moved around a lot in my lifetime, even living in Japan for a total of 3 years (one as a student and two as a teacher many years later). There have been many times in my life when I’ve been an outsider in a strange place, so I understand what it feels like for you to travel and live in a new place. It’s a real challenge to leave behind everyone that you know and love in order to experience something new. At the same time, it’s very exciting! As a student in Japan, I went through many difficult times and had bouts of homesickness and culture shock. In the end, however, I became a stronger person and learned about what kind of power I have as a person. Later, I went back to Japan to teach English and to continue studying Japanese. Again, it was a challenge to work there, but I learned skills that I have used ever since and continue to use at ELI. As I travelled home, I spent 4 ½ months travelling through Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal and India. It was the greatest experience of my life!! Nothing can take the place of meeting new people in new places to help a person grow in patience, confidence, and in human understanding. I have been living in the Boston area for 15 years, so this is now my home. It’s an exciting city with a cosmopolitan feel without being too overwhelming. Meeting people from around the world here at ELI and also in Boston connects me to the world outside and reminds me every day of my own struggles, experiences, and values. I hope to meet you soon so that I can count you as one of my many international friends!

Julie McClure, Academic Coordinator

Hi, my name is Julie McClure. I’m thrilled to welcome students as a teacher and administrator at Pine Manor College ELI. My passion is facilitating language learning through cross-cultural engagement. I’ve worked with various student audiences including high school, undergraduate, graduate and executive education. I have a graduate degree in applied linguistics and completed study and development in Latin America. I regularly look for ways to integrate new approaches and make learning fun in our school. I wake up excited to come to work every day because of the excellent teachers and students in the ELI community.

Aisha Densmore-Bey, Housing Coordinator

Hello there! I am Aisha Densmore-Bey, the housing coordinator for ELI. In addition to my role with ELI, I am also a practicing architect and designer with my own business. I have extensive experience in teaching art and design to high school and college students and also teaching American Culture to ESL students. I love to travel and have been lucky enough to visit countries in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and have traveled all over North America (including Mexico and Canada). I love being with people from different cultures. My wonderful interactions with beautiful people from other countries have fostered proof that we are much more similar than we are different. I think of myself as the "house mother" here at ELI and I am very protective of the facilities and the people who live in the dorm. I try to make sure everyone has a safe and good time during their stay with us here in Boston. I look forward to meeting you when you come. By the way, I never turn down candy and treats from other countries! Welcome to ELI!

Paul Paradis, ELI Program Assistant

My name is Paul Paradis, and I am the current Program Assistant here at Pine Manor College ELI. I lived in western Bali for 18 months, and that experience was very transformative. Because of this, I have firsthand experience living in another country and trying to assimilate the language and customs, and understand how disorienting that can be. I look forward to making use of that experience by helping all of our current and future students feel supported and welcomed.

International Payments:

Flywire is now a payment option for sending money to ELI!This secure service allows you to pay in your local currency and gives the best exchange rate. We hope that you find this innovative service designed for international students to be a convenient, cost-effective upgrade to our payment options!